Resposta cardiovascular ao Stroop: comparação entre teste computadorizado e verbal / Cardiovascular response to Stroop test: comparison between the computerized and verbal tests

FUNDAMENTO: O teste de Stroop requer que o indivíduo responda a elementos específicos de um estímulo enquanto inibe processos mais automatizados. OBJETIVO: Comparar a reatividade cardiovascular induzida pela versão computadorizada do teste palavra-cor de Stroop - TESTINPACS® com versão tradicional baseada na leitura de palavras impressas. MÉTODOS: A amostra de conveniência foi constituída por 20 mulheres (22,4 ± 4,1 anos). Análises de variância com medidas repetidas foram utilizadas para comparar efeitos principais entre testes (computadorizado, verbal), assim como entre etapas do teste (linha de base, Stroop 1, Stroop 3) das variáveis fisiológicas (pressão arterial, arritmia sinusal respiratória, frequência cardíaca e frequência respiratória). Testes t para amostras pareadas foram utilizados para comparar as médias pressóricas entre o Stroop 3 e a linha de base. Ademais, a magnitude dos efeitos (d') foi estimada a fim avaliar o impacto das diferenças entre as medidas fisiológicas relativas ao Stroop 3 e a linha de base. RESULTADOS: As duas versões do instrumento produziram elevação significativa em frequência cardíaca (p<0,01) e pressão arterial sistólica (p<0,05) quando medidas resultantes do Stroop 3 foram comparadas às de base. Não se verificaram, contudo, diferenças significativas produzidas pelas diferentes versões do teste sobre as demais variáveis investigadas. Estatísticas d' confirmaram a grande magnitude dos efeitos (-1,04 a +1,49) entre as medidas do Stroop 3 e da linha de base. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que a presente versão computadorizada TESTINPACS® do teste de Stroop constitui instrumento útil para induzir reatividade cardiovascular em mulheres.

BACKGROUND: The Stroop test requires the individual to respond to specific elements of a stimulus, whereas inhibiting more automated processes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiovascular reactivity induced by the computerized version of the Stroop word-color test TESTINPACS® with the traditional version based on the reading of printed words. METHODS: The sample of convenience consisted of 20 women (22.4 ± 4.1 years). Analyses of variance with repeated measures were used to compare the main effects between the tests (computerized vs verbal), as well as between phases of the test (baseline, Stroop 1, Stroop 3) on the physiological variables (arterial pressure, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart failure and respiratory rate). The t tests for paired samples were used to compare the pressure means between Stroop 3 and baseline. Additionally, the magnitude of the effects (d') was estimated in order to assess the impact of the changes in the physiological measurements between Stroop 3 and the baseline. RESULTS: The two versions of the assessment tool caused significant increase in heart rate (p<0.01) and systolic arterial pressure (p<0.05) when the measurements obtained at the Stroop 3 were compared to that of baseline. However, no significant differences were observed regarding the different versions of the test on the other investigated variables. The d' statistics confirmed the high magnitude of the effects (-1.04 to +1.49) between the measurements from the Stroop 3 and the baseline ones. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the current computerized version (TESTINPACS TM) of the Stroop test constitutes a useful instrument to induce cardiovascular reactivity in women.

Effect of Illumination on Colour Vision Testing with Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test: Customized Colour Vision Booth versus Room Illumination

PURPOSE: To evaluate a customized, portable Farnsworth-Munsell 100 (FM 100) hue viewing booth for compliance with colour vision testing standards and to compare it with room illumination in subjects with normal colour vision (trichromats), subjects with acquired colour vision defects (secondary to diabetes mellitus), and subjects with congenital colour vision defects (dichromats). METHODS: Discrete wavelengths of the tube in the customized booth were measured using a spectrometer using the normal incident method and were compared with the spectral distribution of sunlight. Forty-eight subjects were recruited for the study and were divided into 3 groups: Group 1, Normal Trichromats (30 eyes); Group 2, Congenital Colour Vision Defects (16 eyes); and Group 3, Diabetes Mellitus (20 eyes). The FM 100 hue test performance was compared using two illumination conditions, booth illumination and room illumination. RESULTS: Total error scores of the classical method in Group 2 as mean+/-SD for room and booth illumination was 243.05+/-85.96 and 149.85+/-54.50 respectively (p=0.0001). Group 2 demonstrated lesser correlation (r=0.50, 0.55), lesser reliability (Cronbach's alpha, 0.625, 0.662) and greater variability (Bland & Altman value, 10.5) in total error scores for the classical method and the moment of inertia method between the two illumination conditions when compared to the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The customized booth demonstrated illumination meeting CIE standards. The total error scores were overestimated by the classical and moment of inertia methods in all groups for room illumination compared with booth illumination, however overestimation was more significant in the diabetes group.

Validação clínica de teste psicofísico computadorizado para avaliação de visão de cores e sensibilidade ao contraste / Clinical validation of a computadorized psychophysical teste for color vision and contrats sensitivity

Objetivo: Avaliar a confiabilidade do teste computadorizado Two Docs para determinação da visão de cores e sensibilidade ao contraste em indivíduos adultos normais. Métodos: Trinta voluntários normais, com idades variando de 20 a 30 anos (média de 23,3 anos) foram submetidos ao TwoDocs Test para determinação de sua sensibillidade ao contraste e classificação de sua visão de cores. Seus resultados foram comparados com os dados obtidos pelas tabelas de Pelli-Robson e Farnsworth-Munsell 100 cores. Resultados: O teste TwoDocs mostrou total concordância com os resultados da sensibilidade ao contraste obtidos com a tabela de Pelli-Robson. Os testes para determinação da visão de cores não concordaram em seus resultados pois a avaliação dessa função visual por meio do teste TwoDocs foi superestimada tendo como base os resultados apresentados pelo teste Farnsworth-Munsell.

Purpose: To determine the reliability of TwoDocs computerized test for the evaluation of color vision and contrast sensitivity in normal adults. Methods: Thirty normal volunteers aged from 20 to 30 years (mean 23.3 years) had their color vision and contrast sensitivity tested by a new computerized test (TwoDocs test). Informed consent was obtained from all participants before testing. Inclusion criteria were: absence of visual complaints, absence of previous ophthalmic surgery, absence of family history of ophthalmologic diseases, best corrected visual acuity for near and distance of 20/20. Tests with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue (FM-100) test for color vision assessment and the Pelli-Robson chart for contrast sensitivity measurement were also performed on the same visit, and both were considered gold standards for clinical validation. Results: The results of contrast sensitivity obtained with the Pelli-Robson chart and TwoDocs test showed agreement of 100%. Color vision results obtained with the TwoDocs test showed a strong trend to overestimate color vision classification when compared with FM-100. Conclusion: The new computerized psychophysical TwoDocs test showed a high sensitivity and specificity for contrast sensitivity measurement and can be a useful clinical tool in ophthalmology practice for this visual task. Color vision classification obtained with the TwoDocs test showed a low specificity when compared with FM-100. One possible reason for this overestimation is the computer monitor used to generate the color pattern. Additional studies in patients with disorders in color vision should be done for understanding the usefulness of this method better in clinical color vision assessment.